Muthoni Marubu says she was almost sexually harassed for backing Ruto

Lamu County MP Muthoni Marubu. [File, Standard]

Lamu County MP Muthoni Marubu has condemned what she termed attempts of sexual assault against her for holding divergent political views, despite the democratic space in the country.

Marubu on Saturday found herself on the receiving end in Murang’a as she faced the wrath of goons for declaring her support for President William Ruto’s re-election and has now narrated her experience, which she says left her shaken and nauseated.

She condemned the violation of democracy and the level of political intolerance exhibited in Murang’a, including switching off the microphone on her, even as she insisted that holding divergent opinions should also have a space in politics.

“I thought I was going to die. When the Members of the County Assembly finished talking, I heard my name called out to speak. Yet the right protocol is MPs speak, then the Women Rep, Senators, and Governor in that order. I was actually shocked… They knew I am for Ruto’s two terms and wanted to bury me so that they would respond to me and I would not have a chance,” she told The Standard yesterday.

Muthoni explained that her intention was to explain her decision to stand with Ruto’s re-election, which she said is because the nature of problems in her county is different from places like Murang’a and requires the Government’s keen input to develop, adding that they do not associate with politics of division, regions, and tribalism.

“I was to tell them that at the hierarchy of needs, we are still at the level of basic needs and we have to do what it takes to have our needs met, but they switched off the microphone, chanting one-term slogans… I know I would have quieted them, even in my mother tongue, if I was given a chance to,” she said.

“What I saw next was hundreds of men filling the podium, who were now overwhelming the security, coming for me. My bodyguard and other security officers also rushed there as the goons continued to force their way and were now pulling my dress, touching me all over, and it was a case now turning into sexual harassment. It was nasty… I even thought I would be raped. It is nauseating, to say the least,” Muthoni explained.

When the situation seemed to escalate, Muthoni narrated that her fellow MPs also rushed to shield her as they attempted to push the goons aside. Momentarily, she sat next to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who did not utter a word, before being escorted out of the venue by several police officers.

She said it was astonishing that Gachagua was seated quietly and smiling throughout, which she described as unbelievable, saying that being a national leader, he should have at least intervened to quell the situation.

“I have never seen anything like that in my life a man would watch a young lady nearly sexually harassed in public while he was seated there, yet he purports to be a national leader. Even the natural instincts of a parent would actually say, do not hurt the lady,” she said.

Muthoni is concerned that such a situation could happen to any other leader, saying the culture of goonism should not be allowed to thrive.

“The level of political intolerance is astonishing, and it is something, as a country, we should call out anyone exhibiting traits of intolerance because it can go badly. On Saturday, we could have witnessed people being hurt and things becoming very ugly. We have divergent opinions, but all have our rights,” she said.

As this happens, the question of political intolerance is creeping in, especially now that the elections are approaching, with some leaders also standing accused over their utterances and exchange of words.

Also on Saturday, as Gachagua spoke during the funeral of the late Alice Wangari Gakuya, mother to James Gakuya, MP Embakasi North, in Murang’a County, he singled out parties associated with Information Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, and former Cabinet Minister Moses Kuria, saying they are being used to divide the Mt Kenya region.

He warned that such political divisions could weaken the region’s bargaining power and urged residents to reject emerging political outfits.

“Let’s not be divided. Our votes are only useful to this region when in one basket. He (William Ruto) will bring many wheelbarrows here. Small parties like that one owned by Moses Kuria, William Kabogo, and Mwangi Kiunjuri. Aren’t those wheelbarrows?” Gachagua said.

But Kuria, in a swift rejoinder on X, lashed out at Gachagua in some unsavoury comments for branding his Chama Cha Kazi as a wheelbarrow party.

“Rigathi wa Gachagua… today you have messed up with the wrong person. Ni mimi na wewe (it is you and me) going forward. I was not two-term. I am from today. You are more dangerous than William Ruto… Dear presidential candidates, anyone associating with Rigathi Gachagua will be the official leader of the official opposition including Ruto,” Kuria charged.

Nominated Senator Veronica Maina has also regretted what she termed the use of goons to intimidate leaders for holding divergent views.

She said she cannot stand cowards who violently attack women for no apparent reason.

“Shame on the goons and shame on the organisers of those goons. This culture is very far from what Murang’a people believe in, and it’s very regrettable. Indeed, now we can see what the DCP Party is encouraging: intolerance to different political opinions and goonism to intimidate divergent views. Let me say this has no place in a mature democracy,” she posted on her social media platforms.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo said: “I strongly condemn the physical attack on Muthoni for expressing her political preference. Violence, especially violence against women, is cowardly. Support your one term and allow her to support her two-term non-violently.”

President William Ruto has since insisted that Kenya must have peace and tranquillity to allow the journey of transformation to run successfully.

“We must put the people’s interests first, and we must be accountable. Accountability and integrity of leadership in Kenya is what will enable us to transform this country. Let us stop divisive and hateful politics; let us look for ways to bring people together,” he said while in West Pokot yesterday.